Rice looks to dominate at linebacker

Freddie Kirby

03/21/2002

One of the top athletes in the state heading into next season, Carlton Rice will likely end up terrorizing opposing offenses from his linebacker position on the college level.

Standing 6-1 and with 207 pounds of solid muscle packed on his frame, Huntsville's Rice stars on both sides of the football in high school. Rice claims a 4.50 clocking in the forty-yard dash, and he bench presses 300 pounds, squats 450 and power cleans 230.

Rice sheds blockers quickly and delivers some vicious hits that tend to leave opposing ball carriers stunned. He runs to the ball extremely fast and he is always on or around the tackle on every play. In pass defense, he blitzes quickly and he can disrupt offenses just with his presence.

Rice attended Thursday's practice at Alabama.

He racked up 92 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and one caused fumble as a junior. He has a chance to become the states top rated linebacker by the end of his senior year.

Rice prefers to play defense in college, but his output at running back will force some schools to entertain the idea of playing him as a power back. He blasted his way to 976 yards and 12 Tds as a junior, plus he had 330 yards receiving with four Tds.

The Huntsville native was selected All City and Super All Metro after his junior performance.

Rice has attended Alabama, Georgia Tech, and the Lamonde Russell camps. He posts a 3.7 GPA and an 18 ACT score.

His cousin, Tyson Eason plays football at UAB. However he is considering the likes of Alabama, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Auburn, Vanderbilt, North Carolina State, and Southern Miss.